Conduct a Google search on the terms "water" and "golf courses" and the results are fairly predictable. Stories pop up about water-use restrictions, water conservation efforts, "water-thirsty" courses that "guzzle" precious resources. But one of the first things that pop up is an article penned by former USGA Green Section director Jim Snow about water-saving efforts by superintendents. The story was written in . . . 2001.
Since then, the USGA has done even more to help superintendents become better water stewards. A grant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Research Initiative to five southern universities has helped establish new turf breeding programs that is leading to the development of new drought- and salt-tolerant grasses.
Four years ago, the University of Florida, University of Georgia, North Carolina State University, Oklahoma State University and Texas A&M University received $3.8 million from the USDA initiative. Used as a financial match to secure the SCRI grant, the USGA funds $120,000 per year to a few of these universities.
The timing has been perfect, with much of Oklahoma and Texas experiencing severe drought conditions for the past three years. The unseasonably cold conditions of the past winter stretched all the way into Florida and have provided an opportunity to test the many cultivars for cold tolerance as well.
Recently, researchers from all five universities met at the University of Florida to discuss the ongoing results of the project that has become the focus of research projects by at least seven graduate students spread across the five schools.
According to the USGA, hundreds of Bermuda, zoysia, Paspalum and St. Augustine grasses have been tested for drought and salt tolerance. Three Bermudas and at least 10 zoysiagrasses were entered into last year's National Turfgrass Evaluation Program trials.
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